Disney World News - What's Coming to Disney World in 2019

(Last updated March 8, 2019)

For the past several years, Disney World has been rolling out major new attractions and even entirely new lands on a regular basis and good news for fans, that trend looks to continue for the next several years!

Trying to plan a trip around something new that is opening?

In general, you may find it easier (and more relaxing) to plan a trip on your timeline, not Disney's.

There have been so many new things opening in the past few years - Pandora over at Animal Kingdom & Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios just to name 2 - that you'll have plenty of "new" stuff to see and do in the parks right now so there's no need to wait.

Want to find out what you can expect to see coming to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando in 2019 (and beyond)?

Check it out below!

In this article

March 2019

Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy (March 31, 2019)

New attraction
Location: Hollywood Studios

Cars fan will be excited when Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy makes its way to Hollywood Studios sometime in early 2019.

This fun new Cars-themed experience will be located in Sunset Showcase which is an area near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Nearby Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy you’ll also be able to meet Cruz Ramirez.

May 2019

Wonderful World of Animation (early May 2019)

New nighttime show
Location: Hollywood Studios

A brand-new projection show called Wonderful World of Animation is coming to Hollywood Studios for the park’s 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Using state-of-the-art technology, this new show will transform the front of the Chinese Theater and take guests on a journey through 90 years of fantastical Disney animation.

Summer 2019

NBA Experience at Disney Springs (No exact date yet)

New attraction
Location: Disney Springs

Sports fans will love the new NBA Experience that is set to open in the summer of 2019 at Disney Springs.

This new entertainment spot is designed to “capture the spirit and energy of pro basketball through immersive experiences" including a station where guests can practice their ball handling skills with an interactive trainer, a spot to get a photo on the "draft stage", and an area to practice the perfect slam dunk (complete with cameras and an adjustable basketball goal for those that can't quite leap as high as the pros).

July 2019

Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs (early July 2019)

New resort

A new 15-story resort tower is coming to Disney’s Coronado Springs.

Once the Gran Destino Tower is completed it will add 545 additional guest rooms (including 50 suites), and 2 new restaurants: Three Bridges Bar and Grill which is located on an island in the middle of the Lago Dorado and a new rooftop Table Service restaurant called Toledo - Tapas, Steak, & Seafood.

August 2019

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (August 29, 2019)

New land
Location: Hollywood Studios

The long-awaited opening for the newest land at Hollywood Studios is just around the corner.

This huge (14 acres!) and hyper-immersive land will house 2 new attractions (Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run & Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance), a restaurants (Oga’s Cantina & Docking Bay 7), Milk Stand food kiosk, plus lots and lots of Star Wars details.

The opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will be August 29, 2019. The opening will be phased and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run will be the only operational attraction in the land when it opens. There will be no FastPass+ offered for this attraction (for now, at least). It will be available during Extra Magic Hours.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open as part of phase 2 later in 2019.

Fall 2019

Walt Disney World Skyliner (No exact date yet)

New transportation option

Disney World is known for having a wide selection of transportation options (boat, bus, monorail) and that trend is continuing with a new way to get around that is coming to the Disney World Resort in 2019: gondolas.

This new transportation system called Disney Skyliner will carry guests from 4 resorts (Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach and the new Riviera Resort) to 2 different parks: Hollywood Studios and Epcot (on the International Gateway side).

Disney’s Riviera Resort (No exact date yet)

New resort

Inspired by the grandeur that Walt himself saw and experienced during his travels along Europe’s Mediterranean coastline, Disney's Riviera (a Disney Vacation Club resort) is located near Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and will have convenient access to the new Disney Skyliner gondola system.

Plus, the location will also provide fantastic views of some of the nighttime spectaculars in the parks.

Epcot Forever (No exact date yet)

New nighttime show
Location: Epcot

A new nighttime spectacular will soon be replacing Illuminations: Reflections of Earth but during the interim, a temporary show will be presented nightly at Epcot.

Named “Epcot Forever” this new show will feature classic Epcot tunes and will incorporate fireworks, lasers, and special effect kites.

No date known (but anticipated to open in 2019)

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (No known date yet)

New attraction
Location: Hollywood Studios

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open up in 2019 as part of Hollywood Studios’ 30th Anniversary. This new attraction is inside the Chinese Theater and replaces The Great Movie Ride, which closed in 2017.

Featuring new technology Disney calls “2 ½ D”, guests will be put inside the zany world of a Mickey Mouse cartoon in the first-ever ride-through attraction themed entirely around Mickey Mouse.

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along (No known date yet, anticipated for early 2019)

New attraction
Location: Epcot

Capitalizing on the success of the For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration in Epcot, this new Beauty and the Beast-themed sing-along will be housed in the same theater where Impressions de France is shown (Disney has said it won’t be replacing this fan favorite, they’ll just share the space and alternate show times).

This show is being created by the same person (Don Hahn) that produced both the animated and live-action versions of Beauty and the Beast.

New Circle-Vision 360 shows (No known date yet)

New attraction
Location: Epcot

Both Canada and China will receive new Circle-Vision 360 shows but not much is known beyond that.

2020

New nighttime spectacular at Epcot

New nighttime show
Location: Epcot

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will be ending in 2019 (and a temporary show called Epcot Forever will be presented in its place) however a brand-new spectacular will debut sometime in 2020. Disney has said this new show will be a “worldwide celebration of Disney music” and is sure to inspire.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

New attraction
Location: Epcot

The France pavilion is getting a new Ratatouille-themed attraction named "Remy's Ratatouille Adventure".

Similar to the version at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, this 4-D attraction uses an innovative “trackless” ride system. Construction on this new ride is currently underway.

New Cirque du Soleil show

New show
Location: Disney Springs

A job posting provided a hint at the possible timeline for the opening of a new Disney-themed Cirque show coming to Disney Springs.

If that posting was correct, the new show won't begin until sometime in 2020, however, those dates have not been confirmed.

The Cove

New resort

A new resort is coming to the Swan and Dolphin-area.

Named “The Cove” this new resort will be more group-oriented and convention-focused and will include several venues for renting, including a rooftop area perfect for weddings and other V.I.P. events.

2021

Tron Lightcycle Power Run

New attraction
Location: Magic Kingdom

Construction has begun on Tron Lightcycle Power Run which is a brand new coaster-style attraction coming to Magic Kingdom.

Inspired by a similar attraction at Shanghai Disneyland, this new ride has broken ground near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.

Guardians of the Galaxy coaster/attraction

New attraction
Location: Epcot

Construction is well underway for a new Guardians of the Galaxy “storytelling coaster-style” attraction at Epcot.

With ride vehicles that rotate and direct your view towards the story unfolding around you, this new ride is HUGE (Disney has said it is one of the world’s longest enclosed coasters) and is sure to impress when it opens in 2021.

New Epcot entrance

Location: Epcot

This new entrance will totally transform the area between the front of the park and Spaceship Earth. Concept art includes plenty of green space, winding paths, and the relocation of the monolithic Leave a Legacy photos to a yet undisclosed area outside the front of the park.

New "play" pavilion

New interactive experience
Location: Epcot

Located in the former "Wonders of Life Pavilion", this new attraction has been described as an immersive and interactive experience where play fuels the fun. Disney says: "Built on the power of play, [the new pavilion] introduces an immersive and interactive ‘city’ where you can explore, create, and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters."

2022

Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge

New resort

Building on the popularity of Disney Vacation Club, a planned 16th resort is in the works for the area between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. For guests familiar with that area, that is the spot of the now closed River Country water park.

Dates unknown

New Star Wars-inspired boutique hotel/resort

New resort

No date has been given yet for this new highly-immersive resort but we do have a few details.

Billed as a “living adventure” and totally unlike anything else on Disney property, this new resort will be 100% immersive and connect guests to the Star Wars universe in never before seen ways.

New space-themed restaurant in Epcot

New restaurant
Location: Epcot

Located between Mission: Space and Test Track, this new space-themed restaurant will use special technology to give guests views of “space” from their table.

New restaurant in Japan pavilion

New restaurant
Location: Epcot

Located in the Japan pavilion of Epcot, a new Signature Dining Experience is being built. Disney hasn't released much information on this project except to say that it will be "inspired by the natural beauty of Japan."

Recently Opened

December 2018

Disney Junior Dance Party! (Opened December 22, 2018)

New attraction
Location: Hollywood Studios

Disney Junior Live on Stage has been under refurbishment since September of 2018 but opened back up on December 22nd as the new Disney Junior Dance Party!

This all-new live high-energy program will feature the stars from some of the top Disney Junior shows including Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Doc McStuffins, The Lion Guard, and Vampirina and will be hosted by Finn Fiesta with tunes provided by a DJ aptly named Deejay.

January 2019

Limited-time celebration for Mickey’s 90th (Now open)

New "street party", updated character meet, and entertainment
Location: Magic Kingdom

Lots of Mickey-inspired fun for Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration including the Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party as well as new Mickey and Minnie touches that will be sprinkled throughout the park by way of new music (Dapper Dans), themed merchandise and treats, and a joint Mickey and Minnie character meet at Town Square Theater.

The Incredibles are coming! (Now open)

New character meet & dance party
Location: Hollywood Studios

2018 found The Incredibles watching over Magic Kingdom for Disney’s Incredible Summer promotion but for 2019 they’ll have a new home over in Hollywood Studios.

Pixar Place (which is where the old entrance to Toy Story Mania was located) will be transformed into a Municiberg city block and there you’ll be able to find a party for 3 very special guests: Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible, and Frozone, a character meet with Edna Mode, as well as a scavenger hunt for Jack-Jack.

Mike & Sulley Character meet (Now open)

New character meet
Location: Hollywood Studios

January 18th is a big day for some other favorites from Pixar, too.

In addition to all the new stuff with The Incredibles, you’ll also be able to meet a couple other fun characters at Hollywood Studios from Monster’s, Inc.: Mike and Sulley. This meet will take place inside of Walt Disney Presents near Pixar Place and the entrance to Toy Story Land.

25th anniversary of The Lion King (Now open)

New attraction
Location: Animal Kingdom

In honor of the 25th anniversary of The Lion King, Animal Kingdom gets a new dance party with a couple of your favorite characters from The Lion King: Timon and Rafiki. The Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party will be held on Discovery Island.

In addition, there will also be some new photo opportunities that will put you into the scenes of the classic via some fun three-dimensional backdrops.